Self adjusting ceiling plate



A ril 17, 1934. A. G. SCHILLE SELF ADJUSTING CEILING PLATE Filed Nov. 12. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l A ril 17, 1934. A. G. SCHILLE SELF ADJUSTING CEILING PLATE Filed Nov. 12, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR I gfiim ih c12 Ghll1$ 4 which may be put Patented Apr. 17, 1934 UNITED STATES PATET OFFICE SELF ADJUSTING CEILING PLATE Anthony G. Schille, Seattle, Wash. Application November 12, 1931, Serial No. 574,627

6 Claims. (Cl. 126-317) My invention relates to the art of ceiling plates and more particularly to a self adjusting ceiling plate.

It is customary to provide plates which are intended to form a finish at the points where pipes pass through any thick wall or surface as the ceiling, for instance, of a room. This is required, as due to expansion and contraction of the pipes, it is not possible to seal them into the body of the wall or ceiling structures. Many so far from its original position as to be unsightly and thus failing in its primary purpose.

7 Many attempts have been made to provide ceiling plate, which by use of springs and the like has been intended to retain the ceiling plate 1 in its most desired position. The most common fault of these devices, is that because of their peculiar construction, so much time is required to put them into position and properly secure them. Secondly, quite often they are so arranged that if for any reason the plate itself is displaced angularly slightly, the springs are not able to function properly. And a third fault inherentto the known devices is their complication, which causes their cost to so far exceed the usual price that they are not commercially practical.

Therefore the principal object of my present invention is to provide a self-adjusting ceiling plate that is economical in its construction, and in position with the minimum expenditure of time.

A further object is the provision of a ceiling plate which has no fixed relationship between the masking member proper and the spring tension device,'so that it will be operative in any angular arrangement.

A still further object is the provision of means whereby my device can be put in position with certainty by an unskilled workman.

A further object is a provision of constructional details, which make it very difficult to render my device inoperative after it has been once installed.

()ther and more specific objects will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is'an elevation in section, showing my device as installed on a pipe which has been moved downwardly to the extreme limit ofits movement.

Figure 2 is a similar view excepting that the pipe to which the device is secured has been moved upwardly or through the partition to'its upward extreme position.

Figures 3 and 4 are cross sectional views taken along the lines 3--3 and 4--4 respectively, of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one-half of my cone-member.

Figure 6 isa similar perspective view of the complementary half of my cone member.

Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of the spring tensioning means employed in my device.

Figure 8 is a top plan view of a modified form of my spring tensioning member.

Figure 9 is a side elevation of Figure 8.

Referring to the drawings, throughout which like reference characters indicate like parts, 10 designates the cone-collar, which constitutes that portion of my device, which is visable when my plate is put to use. The exact construction of this member can be varied of course, to suit the individual requirements under which my device is to be used. Ordinarily I prefer to form my device of two half portions as 12 and 14, which may be secured together to complete a circle in any of the manners at present used in ceiling plate construction. I have indicated in my drawings, two resilient lug supporting members as 15 and 16, which are normally secured to member 14, preferably by welding or soldering thereto.

These members in turn support the locking lugs 1'7 and 18, which members are in turn adapted to engage the lug recesses and 21 in collar portion 12. Normally I prefer that these lugs shall so fill the opening provided, that when the collars are in place the openings 20 and 21 will be so completely filled as to normally avoid detection. As a means for making the union of the two members more accurate and pleasing, I provide guide members as 22 and 24.

I have indicated the two members 12 and 14 as having a concave construction. This form is rather pleasing but not essential; it is essential,

however, that the space provided within collar 10 be suificient, so that when the spring securing memberis in position that sufficient space will be provided to take care of all normal movement of the pipe to which the device is secured.

at f

In using my device, it is first necessary to place 7 provide a locking arrangement.

Secured to the uppermost portion of collar 10 is an annular ring 26. This would necessarily be made of two pieces, if a two-part collar is used, this being the normal construction. Plate 26 is preferably set down a small amount from the extreme upper edge; this is to take care of any qualities in the surface upon which the collar is to rest. A very desirable construction is that shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein plate 26 is formed as part of the collar proper. After the showing of the various figures, however,

it should be evident that a separate plate might be so used which could be secured into position I by any desirable means.

Plate 26 is provided for the purpose of forming a bearing for the springs which are intended to hold my device in position. These springs as will best be observed from Figures 1, 2 and 3, are adapted to bear on the inner or as indicated, the bottom side of ring 26. It is believed apparent, that any number of springsmight be used; however, I have found it most convenient to use two springs as 28 and 30. These springs are secured to a collar which in turn is adapted to engage the movable pipe. In the present instance I have indicated springs 28 and 30 as being secured to bosses as 31 and 32, respectively. These bosses are in turn either formed as a part of, or secured to a split collar. It will be apparent, I believe, that the springs used must be capable of the maximum movement required without permanent deformation. In the preferred form I indicate two collar members as 34 and 36, which are adapted to engageby an interlocking arrangement provided by the headed pin 38 and a receiving slot 40. At the opposite side, I provide a screw at 42, which is adapted to pass through the opening 43 and to be either threaded through the opening 43 and to be either threaded through the opening 44 or to pass through the same and carry a nut on the opposite side. This is to provide a tightening means so that the pipe may be securely engaged. It has been found very desirable to put quite a sharp curve at the extreme end of members 28 and 30 as isindicated at 46 and 48, respectively. This prevents any tendency for the spring members, a'sthey bear upon the ring 26, to dig into the same and thus interfere with their proper functioning.

In Figures 8 and 9, I have shown a slightly modified form of collar construction, in that I have provided the two hinged half-members as before but have hingedly secured the same at 50 and have hingedly secured at 52 a link member as 54. This member in turn supports a toggle bar 56. This toggle member is in turn adapted to engage in the turned up lip at 58 and to thus In this case, however, I prefer to use identical springs as before and to secure them to the collar in the same general manner. 7

. Method of operation the spring securing collar around the pipe upon which it is to be usedwith as P, and then to secure the same in position either by the toggle means as;55 or the screw fastening device at 42. This device should be placed in positionwhen the pipe is in its retracted position. If it is not possible to place the device under these conditions, it is of course, then, necessary to estimate the general position. In placing the collar member, it must be borne in mind that the springs which are curved must extend upwardly.

The next operation is to place the two half collar members 12 and 14 about the spring holding collar. It being only necessary to make certain that the ring 26 be disposed between the extreme end of the springs 28 and 30 and the surface upon which the collar comes to rest.

The curved ends 46 and 48 of springs 28 and 30, respectively, greatly simplifies the closing of the collar as without any particular attention from the installer the curved ends guide ring 26 to its proper position.

The foregoing description and the accompanying drawings are believed to clearly disclose a preferred embodiment of my invention but it will be understood that this disclosure is merely illustrative and that such changes in the invention may be made are fairly within the scope and spirit of the following claims:

What I claim is:

1. A ceiling plate for use with longitudinally movable pipes or rods, consisting of a cove member adapted to encircle a pipe or rod, and having a surface or ceiling engaging rim; an annular plate secured to said rim; spring supporting means adapted to clamp onto the movable pipe or rod and a plurality of springs fixedly secured to said support means and disposed to engage the inner-surface of said annular plate.

2. A ceiling plate for use with longitudinally movable pipes or rods, consisting of a divided cove member adapted to encircle a pipe or rod; and having a surface or ceiling engaging rim; a divided annular plate secured. to said surface engaging portion; a spring supporting means having two collar portions adapted to clamp onto a movable pipe or rod; and a plurality of springs fixedly secured to said support means and disposed to engage the inner-surface of said annular plate.

3. A ceiling plate intended to encircle a member subject to longitudinal movement consisting of a saucer-shape collar having a surface engaging rim and a recess portion of smaller diameter adapted to engage loosely the movable member; an annular ledge near the surface engaging rim of the collar; a spring supporting collar disposed within said recess consisting of two half portions pivotally secured together at one point and provided with locking means at another point to secure the collar members together and further to clamp them about a movable member; and a plurality of springs secured to said collar and disposed to exert pressure on the underside of the annular ledge.

4. A ceiling plate intended to encircle a member subject to longitudinal movement consisting of a saucer-shape collar having a surface engaging rim and a recess portion of smaller diameter adapted to engage loosely the movable member; an annular ledge near the surface engaging rim of the collar; a spring supporting collar consisting of two half portions pivotally secured together at one point and provided with locking means at another point to secure the movable member; and spring members disposed to exert pressure on the underside of the annular ledge and adapted to be fixedly secured, at one end, to the supporting collar and having sharply turned curved ends so disposed as to place the extreme ends ofthe spring some distance away from the annular ledge when the springs engage a dl d e. r

ing of a saucer-shape collar having a surface engaging rim and a recess portion of smaller diameter; a spring supporting means, adapted to clamp onto said member disposed within said recess; and a plurality of springs secured to said spring supporting means and disposed to exert pressure on the underside of the surface engaging rim.

ANTHONY G. SCHILLE. 

